The False 9

Another week gone in the pressure filled Premier league and once again we have so much to talk about. The likes of the form of our front runners in the Champions League, the relegation battle which is like no other and of course Liverpool’s red hot form. With only 11 games left to go this season, here is a preview of the weeks games as the going is about to get tough.

Tottenham vs Cardiff City

I hate Tottenham so it’s nice to see them have a loss at Norwich in the weekend just gone. With Liverpool scoring copious amounts of goals and enjoying their best period of the year, Spurs are starting to slip in the race for the top four. They are now 6 points outside the Champions league positions and if this gets a lot bigger then it could become a dream more than a realistic goal. Cardiff comes to town still battling the relegation bug and trying to win their first game in over a month. Their off January window acquisitions of Wilfried Zaha and Kenwyn Jones are yet to fire successfully but they have the makings of a side able to trouble Tottenham for sure. An early goal from Cardiff would pour all sorts of pressure on Spurs. But surely at home Spurs will get up knowing they are starting to slowly run out of time. Spurs 2-0.

Everton vs West Ham

Heartbreak for the Toffees last week when they conceded in injury time to Chelsea after holding strong for 90 minutes! They have the talent but this once again looks like a season Everton punch above their weight but can’t find that extra something to push them even higher. The loss of Romelu Lukaku has been huge in the goal scoring charts but they still have more than enough steel to keep persisting through these hard times. Kevin Nolan has scored 5 goals in the last 4 games and funnily enough West Ham has won 4 on the trot. FOUR ON THE TROT!! That is unheard of. No one saw this coming a month ago as many had written them well off. If they can keep up this form they will safely avoid relegation... but can they do this? I’m not sure to be honest. Everton should bring the Hammers back to earth. Not without a scare though. Everton 2-1.

Fulham vs Chelsea

2 points from their last 5 games is not a sufficient return for a club needing wins to get themselves out of relegation. They have changed their manager again this season, which just shows how much of a hole they are in. There is no consistency within this side and this is why they are struggling to stay afloat in the league. The players just don’t know what is going to happen next. And yes we all know it is the players who actually go out there and play, however there has to be some stability in the club. Chelsea is humming along nicely under Jose Mourinho and is brimming with confidence after winning late on against Everton. Branislav Ivanovic is becoming more of an offensive weapon each week having scored 2 goals from the back in the past 3 games and is starting to provide a different avenue to Chelsea’s attack. A midweek CL draw for Chelsea may have turned their attentions away from this match as well as the fact that many players will be backing up once again. I can see relegation threatened Fulham being stiff to beat! Draw 1-1.

Hull City vs Newcastle

Who really knows what is going to happen in this match!? Hull are coming off a 4-0 away win over Cardiff City and Newcastle have snapped their 3 game losing streak by winning in injury time 1-0 over Aston Villa. Confidence is key for both these sides. I’m a big fan of Shane Long and that’s where I will lay my cards for this match. His new partnership with Nikika Jelavic is one I believe will blossom the more they play together. They have started to gel and will start to work their lines off each other and cause high line defences trouble with their angled runs and ability to be tidy finishes in front of goal. Newcastle is still struggling after the loss of Yohan Cabaye, and this match will be no difference. Hull City 2-0.

They are proving to be strikeforce worth watching

Stoke City vs Arsenal

Having won only one out of their last 10 league matches, Stoke are looking very shaky. Their win over United has been short lived and they find themselves now only 3 points outside the relegation zone. Charlie Adam has been the bright spark so far in this campaign, but he will have his work cut out coming up against Arsenal’s rampant midfield. With 7 goals in this campaign he will need to add to that tally if Stoke are to take the 3 points at the Britannia. Arsenal rested Mesut Ozil last week in their routine 4-1 win over Sunderland. With Ozil looking to come back into the line-up the Gunners should have a fresh look about them, after no midweek football blotting the schedule. This is an important match for Arsenal to ensure they keep in contact with Chelsea who plays at the same time. With only 11 games left, the crunch time is coming. This match will be a tight battle, and it might come down to who takes their chances. On that alone, I think Arsenal should get up. Arsenal 2-1.

Southampton vs Liverpool

This is my game of the round. Liverpool has been on the maddest high ever since that complete thumping of Arsenal 5-1. Goals have been flying in left, right and centre with 12 bursting the net in the last 3 games. Funny part is they have shipped 8 goals in as well, but still won 3 from 3. Liverpool is playing it like an old fashioned NFL shoot out! Whatever you score, I’ll score more attitude. So far so good for the Reds but surely this can’t last. Daniel Sturridge is in scintillating form and Suarez has taken a back seat, which is kind of scary. They will be up against it this week against an organised Southampton side. They concede less than 2 goals a game on average and sit happily in midtable. Their home form has been a tad sketchy but they will be up for this game. Rickie Lambert has been in great form recently and with Jay Rodriguez pulling the strings around him, they are a team worth watching! My feeling is Liverpool’s shortcomings at the back are going to catch up with them. This could be the week. Southampton 2-1.

Aston Villa vs Norwich:

Norwich just went and beat Tottenham and Aston Villa had a last gasp loss to Newcastle. Surely momentum has to count for something? I would love to pick a winner here, but this match is so unpredictable. Every match between the relegation battlers turn into perennial 6 pointers. The teams will be timid to start because they can’t afford to lose ground on their rivals. Something has to budge here. Villa at home is a much stronger force than Norwich away. This is a tossup. I’m thinking Villa will get up, but who knows! Aston Villa 2-1.

Swansea vs Crystal Palace:

Swansea can score goals. Wilfried Bony is arguably one of my favourite players going around at the moment. He is one of those strikers who can do it all. Shoot from outside the box. Check. Can header a ball with power. Check. Posts up and links with the midfield. Check. He has a great attitude, and his partnership with Jonjo Shelvey has been impressive over the last month. If they can keep up this form, then it will send Swansea up the table at speed. Crystal Palace was supposed to be looking more positive ever since Tony Pulis took over. However they are winless in their last 3 matches and are still well entrenched in the relegation spaces. They will need a minor miracle to avoid relegation and they need to take points away from matches against mid table teams. With Marouane Chamakh leading the line, I just can’t see them doing enough to win games unfortunately. Swansea 3-1.